Vaporizer



A. B. JOHNSON Sept. 7, 1954 VAPORIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed NOV. 5 1951 INVENTOR. @rg efl Jbignaom,

s /fid/fl Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims. 1

'This invention relates to improvements in vaporizers of the type in which a quantity of water or'other liquid is progressively heated and vaporized, preferably by electrical means. The heating of the liquid may preferably be eiiected by the passage of an electric current through the liquid between spaced electrodes, thus giving the device a definite time period of operation-determined by the quantity of liquidcontained therein.

In United States Letters Patent No. 2, 3 granted December 12, 1950, on an 'application'of Marshall W. Hanks and Arne B. Johnson, there is disclosed a vaporizer of the type to which the present invention may relate, wherein a large quantity of liquid is stored in a vessel and successive portions are progressively segregated and heated ina separate chamber, thereby giving the advantages of a quick production of steam at starting and a continued supply over a long period of time.

One object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer having means for varying the rate of vaporization during the operation of the device. A further object is to provide a vaporizer of the liquid conductor heater type wherein a liquid is vaporized by the passage of current therethrough between spacedelectrodes, in which means are provided for effecting a. regulation of the effective resistance between the electrodes and thereby changing the rate of vaporization of the liquid. Still another object of the invention is to provide a vaporizer comprising a vessel for containing a liquid and a separate container removably located in said vessel and having mounted therein spaced electrodes for vaporizing portions of said liquid which have access to said container from said vessel. A further object of the invention is to provide a vessel for containing a body of liquid to be vaporized in combination with a removable container adapted to receive liquid from said vessel and having mounted therein spaced electrodes provided with means whereby they are connected in an electric circuit by the operation of inserting the container in said vessel. Another object of the invention is to provide a vaporizer comprising a vessel having mounted therein spaced electrodes connected in an electric circuit and adapted to heat the liquid in said vessel by the passage of current therethrough between said electrodes in combination with a metal member adapted to extend between said electrodes in spaced relation thereto and capable of adjustment to vary the extent of the liquid filled gaps through which the current passes between the electrodes. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodi ment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a vaporizer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section taken on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan view of the portion of the structure which is illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section taken on the line44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. Gshows a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.4.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention comprises a vessel It, formed of porcelain, plastic, or other heat-insulating and electrical-insulating material, which is adapted to contain a quantity of water or other liquid to be vaporized. This vessel has an annular upright wall lna which has a general egg-shaped form and which is integrally united with a horizontal bottom wall 102). 'The wall Illa has a semi-circular projection Inc at one end and the walls Illa and H10 terminate in a continuous downwardly extending flange 10d which forms a cavity beneath the bottom wall "lb. The flange Ind is enlarged at intervals to form bosses [lie in which are secured the rubber plugs ll adapted to rest upon a table [2 or other support. Another downwardly extending flange i0) is formed integrally with the bottom wall Nib and provides a continuation of a part of the flange [002, thus forming a circular recess l3 at theend of the vesse1 where the projecting wall IE0 is located.

The vessel Ill also comprises a top wall lDg, formed of porcelain, plastic, or other insulating material of which the body of the vessel is formed, and this top wall issecured in place by means of screws [4 which engage threaded apertures in the upper ends of enlarged ribs lth formed on the inside of the wall Illa. The top wall 10g fits over the top edges of the walls Ilia and and has a downwardly extending flange I01 fitting on the insidesof these outer walls. The top wall leg is provided with a handle [5 which is secured thereto by a bolt l6 and by a long stud I! having its lower threaded extremity engaging a boss It? formed on the upper side of the bottom wall Hit.

The top wall 199 is also provided at one end thereof with a circular opening i070 which is concentric with the curved wall I and which provides an opening through which the water or other liquid may be introduced into the vessel.

The opening ifllc is normally closed by a removable cover 58 also formed of porcelain or the like, which has an annular shoulder l8a adapted to seat upon the top wall illg around the margin of the opening. This cover is hollow and has an internal chamber I81) adapted to receive the steam which is produced by the vaporization of the liquid and this steam is discharged through an opening I80 extending horizontally through a wall of the cover so that the steam is directed over a hollow cavity l8d adapted to contain a medicament to be vaporized by the action of the steam.

The vessel l 0 is adapted to contain a relatively large quantity of water or other liquid, for example, a gallon or more, and in order that a portion of this liquid may be quickly vaporized when the apparatus is started in operation, a separate relatively small vaporizing container 20 is provided. This container 20 has a general cupshaped form with an annular wall 20a and a bottom wall 29?). The wall 29a has a slight flare in an upward direction and its upper open end is closely fitted by a depending flange l8e formed on the cover It. The bottom end of the container 20 rests within a cavity formed by a depressed portion llln of the bottom wall of the vessel [0 and the container is adapted to be centered in this depression by means of an integral pin 2G0 which projects downwardly from the center of the bottom wall 20b and fits into a recess formed in the hollow downwardly projecting boss mm formed as a part of the depressed wall portion I M. When the container 20 has been placed in position in the depression at the bottom of the vessel with the tapered pin 26c engaging the recess or cavity in the boss Him, the cover It may be placed over the opening lilk in the top wall of the vessel with the depending flange l-Be thereof fitting into the upper end of the annular wall 20a and with the annular shoulder l8 of the cover extending over the top edge of the wall 20a.

The container 23 is formed preferably of porcelain, Bakelite or other nonconducting heatinsulating material and it is provided near its bottom with a relatively small aperture 28d through which the water or other liquid in the vessel it flows into the internal chamber of the container to be vaporized. This vaporization is effected by the passage of an electric current between two spaced electrodes 22 which are in the form of flat plates arranged parallel to each other in vertical planes. These electrodes are provided at their lower ends with transversely extending flanges 22a which seat upon projections 20 formed on the bottom wall Zilb of the container and which are secured in place by the terminal posts 23. Each terminal post passes through an aperture of the bottom wall 20b and engages a slot 222) formed in the associated electrode. It is clamped in position against the projection 20 by a nut 23a engaging the upper threaded extremity thereof. These terminal posts are also provided with hexagonal portions 226 located in cavities of corresponding shape formed in the underside of the wall 2% and they are provided with lower split extremities 22c which form the terminals by which connections are made to an electric circuit. By releasing the nuts 23a the terminal posts 23 may be adjusted with respect to the slots 22b to secure the desired spaced relation of the upwardly extending parallel plates of the electrodes 22.

The lower split extremities 220 of the terminal posts are somewhat resilient and are adapted to fit tightly into cup-shaped socket members 25 which are secured in apertures formed in the portion 0n of the bottom wall of the vessel Ill and which are provided at their upper ends with enlarged outwardly extending flanges 25a. These socket members 25 are externally threaded and are connected to the bare ends of flexible insulated conductors 26 leading from a source of supply of electric current, such as the ordinary llG-volt household circuit. The bare ends of these wires are looped around the portions of the socket members 25 which extend beneath the bottom wall of the vessel and these portions of the conductors are then clamped in place by washers 2i and nuts 28 which engage the lower threaded ends of the socket members. The supply conductors 26 lead to the cavity l3 through an aperture formed in the flange Hid, as shown in Fig. 3. With the foregoing arrangement, the socket members 25 are connected in the electric circuit by means of the conductors 2t and their cavities are open to the interior of the vessel 10 so that, when the container 29 is lowered to its operating position with the guide pin 29c engaging the cavity in the boss Him, the containermay be rotated until the split extremities 220 of the terminal posts are in alignment with the socket members 25, whereupon the container 26 may be thrust downwardly to cause the terminal posts to engage the socket members and thus complete the connection with the electric circuit. The cavity 13 in which the connections with the conductors 26 are made is normally closed by a plate 28 of fibreboard or the like, which is attached by a screw to a boss formed on the bottom wall llln.

When the container 28 has been inserted in the vessel in with the terminal posts 23 engaging the socket members 25, the liquid in the vessel I0 will enter the container 29 through the aperture 23d and thus establish a connection between the spaced electrodes 22 so that, if the conductors 26 are then connected in a circuit, current will flow between the electrodes 22 and thereby heat and vaporize the water in the space between them. The cover is being than in place upon the upper end of the container fill, the steam or vapor rising from the contents of the container 20 will pass upwardly and discharge through the opening I80. The vaporizer may be used with or without a medicament but if a medicament is placed in the cavity 5801, it will be vaporized by the passage of the steam thereover so that a mixture of steam and vapor is produced for medicinal use.

In order that the rate of vaporization of the liquid in the container 20 may be regulated to suit the requirements, a conducting plate 36 is mounted for movement in a vertical plane parallel to the planes of the electrodes 22. This plate 30 is adapted to be equally spaced from the electrode plates 22 and the extent to which it is lowered between the electrodes will determine the rate at which the liquid is vaporized by the passage of current between the electrodes, inasmuch as the presence of the plate 39 will reduce the resistance to the passage of current in the area in which the plate 30 overlaps the electrodes 22. In order that the extent of this overlap may be varied to cause the desired variation in therate of vaporization, the plate is mounted on the lower end of a rod 3| which is slidably mounted in an aperture formed in the center of a bearing plate 32. This plate 32 is formed of porcelain or the like and is provided with a series of apertures 32a through which the steam or vapor may escape upwardly from the region of the electrodes. The outer margin of the plate 3 2 is spaced slightly from the wall 20a of the container and the plate is secured in place by outwardly projecting flanges 32b engaged by screws 33 which enter threaded apertures formed in the upper ends of ribs 20g. These ribs are formed as integral parts of the annular wall 2% of the container and are preferably extended downwardly to the bottom Wall 201). The rod 3| is provided at its upper end with av knob or handle 35 which may be engaged by the fingers of the operator, after removing the cover 13, to move the rod 38 upwardly or downwardly and thereby vary the extent to which the plate 30 extends between the electrodes 22. The extent to which the plate 30 may be withdrawn is limited by pin 36 which is secured in the rod 3| and the rod is adapted to be held in any desired position through the frictional engagement therewith of a leaf spring 31. This spring is secured to the plate 32 by a bolt 38 and its free extremity enters a slot 32c which is formed in the central boss 32d of the plate to contact with the side of the pin 3 l, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. With this arrangement, it is possible to adjust the position of the plate 30 during the operation of the device, merely by removing the cover [8 and opthrough the opening 20d. By suitably adjusting the position of the plate 30 the rate of vaporization may be regulated when the device is started in operation or during its subsequent performance. The mounting of the electrodes Within the container 20 has the advantage of permitting the adjustment of the rate of vaporization which has just been referred to and also the advantage that the electrodes may be removed with the container 20 when desired so that they may be readily cleaned outside of the vessel Ill. When the cleaning has been completed, the container 20 may be readily replaced in the vessel, located in proper position by means of the pin 29c, and then forced downwardly after rotating the container until the terminal posts 23 register with the socket members 25.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, electrical means comprising plate electrodes mounted in parallel spaced relation in said liquid in said vessel for vaporizing said liquid by the passage of current therethrough, a metal plate mounted in spaced relation to and having relative movement with respect to both of said electrodes, a rod attached 6: to s'ai'd plate, asupporting member in which said rod is slidably mounted, and means for frictionally holding said rod in adjusted position in said member.

2. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container movable into and out of said vessel through said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow into said container when said container is in said vessel, anda pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container.

3. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container movable into and out of said vessel through said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow into said container when said container is in said vessel, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, and means for connecting said electrodes in an electric circuit when said container is mounted in said vessel.

4. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container movable into and out of said vessel through said opening and having an aperture through which: said liquid may fiow into said container when said container is in said vessel, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, terminal posts carried by said container and connected to said electrodes, and means connected in an electric circuit and carried by said vessel for detachably forming conections with said terminal posts when said container is moved into said vessel.

5. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container movable into and out of said vessel through said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may fiow into said container when said container is in said vessel, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, terminal posts carried by said container and connected to said electrodes, socket members mounted in the wall of said vessel and adapted detachably to receive said terminal posts when said container is moved into said vessel, and means for connecting said socket members in an electric circuit.

6. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container removably mounted in said vessel opposite said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, and a metal plate adjustably mounted between said electrodes.

7. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container removably mounted in said vessel opposite said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may now, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, a meta1 plate movable between and parallel to said electrodes, and means for holding said plate in an adjusted position.

8. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container removably mounted in said vessel opposite said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said contanier, said vessel having a cavity in its wall, and a pin carried by said container for engaging said cavity to position said container when said container is mounted in said vessel.

9. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container removably mounted in said vessel opposite said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, said vessel having a cavity in its wall, a pin carried by said container for engaging said cavity to position said container when said container is mounted in'said vessel, a pair of terminal posts connected to said electrodes and extending from said container parallel to said pin, socket members mounted in the wall of said vessel and adapted to receive said posts, and means for connecting said socket members in an electric circuit.

10. A vaporizer comprising a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, said vessel having an opening, a container movable into and out of said vessel through said opening and having an aperture through which said liquid may flow into said container when said container is in said vessel, a pair of spaced electrodes located within and carried by said container, and a cover for said opening having a detachable engagement with the end of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 754,451 Hill Mar. 15, 1904 1,322,860 Wubbens et al Nov. 25, 1919 1,326,443 Cutting Dec, 30, 1919 1,356,846 Youn Oct. 26, 1920 1,677,299 Schneider July 17, 1928 2,049,899 Edelman Aug. 4, 1936 2,301,646 Stapleton Nov. 10, 1942 2,387,155 Katzman Oct. 16, 19 5 

